Build Log - Project Colorblind

[orangejuice789]

Hello All, this will be my first build log so bare with me. Any input, ideas, or comments are greatly appreciated!

The Goals:

-nice aesthetics (priority)

-high FPS in most modern games @ 1920x1080

-capable of solid overclocks

-all internal watercooling setup

-a bit of cable sleeving

-good cable management

-relatively low temps @ ambient

-To complete a water cooling build log here on Toms!


The PC Components:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K LGA 1155

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SE 1024MB

HD: HITACHI Deskstar 1.5TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s x2 (Hopefully in RAID 0)

RAM: WINTEC One 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

Case: Fractal Design Define XL (Black)

CD/DVD Drive: ASUS 24X DVD Burner +RW

Power Supply: NZXT HALE90 Series 1000W



The Water Cooling Components:

GPU Cooler: XSPC Razor 460 (full cover block)

Pump: Swiftech MCP655-B™ Series 12 VDC Water Pump

Radiators: XSPC RS240 and XSPC RX360

Reservoir: Bitspower Water Tank Z-Multi 250

Tubing: Tygon Clear 1/2ID 5/8OD

CPU Cooler: XSPC Rasa Universal Block

Fittings: Barbs from XSPC and angled rotary Barbs from Enzotech


I'll start things off with a small update displaying the parts i already have. These images show the XSPC RASA CPU block taken apart, and cleaned (somewhat), the XSPC RX360 Rad that i am using from a previous setup, and some XSPC barb fittings.

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Build logs ftw!
Looking forward to watching this
Moto

 

[rubix_1011]

I like it...we've needed build logs for soooo long. Make sure you post the final thread and pics in the pics/build thread...that way, people can see your pics and have the link to the build log for reference.

 

[evberkel]

Great! keep us posted. maybe its an idea to put some kinda shoppinglist?

Greetz. Killm

 

[orangejuice789]

Update




This is a small update revealing some of the PC components I recieved. More to come as more parts arrive!

Rest of PC parts will likely come in on the 11th, and watercooling parts will (hopefully) come in on the 12th.

Stay tuned.

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Looks like you've had the sanding disk on that 460 man
I love getting a ton of parts in the post, my neighbours think I have about 50 pc's in here , or one huge one lol
Moto

 

[orangejuice789]

Update


Just another tiny update to show newer image quality... same camera, just better lighting, backdrop, settings, and a tri-pod.

Stay tuned!

 

[boiler1990]

Are you going to be using all three sticks of RAM? They'll run in single channel mode on that motherboard; just wanted to make you aware of that if you weren't

The parts list looks good. If you don't mind me asking, about how much was the whole bundle of WC parts? XSPC makes some good parts for the price

I've never seen a Fractal Design case in person, so I'd like to see how it fits in the case. Do you plan on/need to mod the case at all, or drill some holes at the least? Also what fans are you going to use?

Good luck and I look forward to seeing this in its finished state!

 

[cromedome]

I also was curious as to why you are going to use 3 sticks of ram, or maybe use 2 and keep 1 as a spare. Or I suppose 6Gb of ram in single channel might be better than 4Gb in dual channel.

Getting back on topic, I really like this build log so far, looks good, pictures are great, keep it up. Are you going to go SLi 460's in the future?

 

[orangejuice789]

Thanks boiler1990 and cromedome for the comments...

I didnt even realize that about the mobo to be honest, just overlooked it. Do either of you know if its possible to run those triple channel in dual channel and keep one extra?

Case modding will be done, rad-grills will be installed. but i dont want to reveal all of the plans just yet.

Fans being used will be...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233035

Maybe SLI the 460's in the future but im already looking a bit over budget for now haha.

 

[boiler1990]

You can run 2 of the RAM sticks together in dual channel, and just have one spare stick lying around.

 

[orangejuice789]

I decided to return the triple channel memory and spring for 8 GB (2x4GB) memory (DDR3 @ 1600 and 1.5V) a bit of hassle with the return and all but got free shipping on the 8GB so i figured it was worth it.

Heres a quick update displaying some of the parts i recieved today!

One slightly lighter than the other! *gasp*

The fans in their surprisingly easy to open packages...

Quite a bit of sleeving to do on those fans.

Watercooling parts come in tomorrow.

Unfortunately I cannot order the case until friday due to availability on newegg, but I will still be able to add to the log this week with sleeving and other preparatory things...

Stay tuned!

 

[rubix_1011]

How are you going to sleeve them? Waiting to see how this build turns out.

 

[orangejuice789]

@ Rubix, well hopefully this next update will answer that for you. It was my first sleeving attempt so it didnt turn out as well as i would have liked, (maybe black would have been a better choice) however it will certainly do.

 

[orangejuice789]

Update

Some pics of the watercooling parts, case parts, mounting of the GPU block, installation of the backplate, power supply, and sleeving of fans.

The box that came in the mail today from performance-pcs.

The parts in the box.

PSU

The GPU Block (XSPC Razor 460)

 

[orangejuice789]

The mounting of the XSPC Razor 460 Full Cover Waterblock.

 

[orangejuice789]

The installed backplate.

The fans sleeved.

Stay tuned!

(sorry for multiple posts, i seem to be limited to ten pictures per post before the pictures begin to turn into links instead of actual pictures... so bear with me... or PM me if there is a fix for this issue)

 

[boiler1990]

Looking good! The sleeving job doesn't look as bad as you think it did

What thermal paste did you end up using for the GPU? I love the EK backplates; they truly look good.

 

[Motopsychojdn]

+1, loving the sleeving job man, and white is an uncommon theme so its looking well good so far
Moto

 

[boiler1990]

+1, loving the sleeving job man, and white is an uncommon theme so its looking well good so far
Moto

Yeah, now I want a white PSU and sleeved cables to go with my white tubing

 

[evberkel]

Looks great! White is awsome.

[N2N] KiLLm

 

[orangejuice789]

@ Boiler - Thanks! I used arctic mx-4 for thermal paste, I will be using it on the CPU as well. With regards to the backplate, I agree they can really help w/ the aesthetics of a build!

@Moto - Thanks man! Hopefully I can keep working towards better quality photos and work in general... I dont have a DSLR camera (though im looking into the Canon Rebel T3) so taking really nice pictures is a bit of a job.

@Evberkel - Thanks KillmAll, glad to see your following the log!

 

[4Ryan6]

Great pictures and nice sleeving job!

 

[rubix_1011]

I've always liked white tubing and sleeving...just looks so clean. Everyone wants to do color and bling...sometimes black/white end up the best color schemes.

 

[orangejuice789]

@ 4ryan6- Thanks man! Glad to see you checking out this log! (unfortunately its not likely i will see 5.1 w/ my processor in this build!)

@rubix- I agree, it is easy to go overboard with color and light, im a little bit concerned about the fans white LED's being too bright but we will have to wait and see.